Former school board member Kenneth Reeder seeks mayoral office

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- A former St. Joseph School District Board of Education member is running for mayor.

Kenneth Reeder was born and raised in St. Joseph. Before running for mayor, he served on the St. Joseph School District Board of Education from 2021 to 2024.

Reeder said he is running for mayor to ensure residents have a voice.

"Not to be locked out of City Hall any longer for them to start standing up and making tough decisions, not the go along, get along mentality," he said. “I have as much experience in City Hall as anyone that's on that council, and especially in the mayor's position. I kinda understand how it works. I’m for the regular guy. I’m for using common sense.”

If elected, Reeder shared his goal to be transparent with St. Joseph residents.

"I'm going tell you when I made a mistake. I’m going to honestly say, like I said last night, it’s not so much people know or think they know,” he said. “It’s what they think they know that’s the truth. No matter what, I will not be hesitant whatsoever if I made a mistake or wrong decision to tell the truth and come clean with it. Not (to) try to sweep it under the rug and make constant excuses."

Reeder hammered on advocating to do the right thing.

"Even if I have to stand alone," he said. "Against the unanimous head bobbing, go along, get along mentality that we have. We need to stand up for things that are wrong."

Reeder said that if he is elected, he wants to be involved and be truthful.

"Stand up for being transparent. Do a lot of these things even if I have to stand alone,' he said. "Against the unanimous head bobbing, go along, get along mentality that we have. We need to stand up for things that are wrong."

Reeder said his three priorities if elected would be ending the city council’s COVID protocols, restoring Interstate I-229, and increasing diversity on the council.

"First thing will be, take the council out of the back room. Let’s get off COVID protocol on our meetings, it’s only 20 nights of their entire life," he said. “As mayor, I have hundreds of people who agree with me on the I-229 thing, tearing it down and restoring it to what we have. You know what’s the biggest thing wrong with this city council they look just like me. No diversity, no females, no minority whatsoever, it hasn’t been for eight years. I mean, come on, what’s wrong with this picture.”

Reeder said he aims to make St. Joseph the largest hotspot-friendly town.

“Could be done very easily with a lot of reasons, and it wouldn’t cost us, taxpayers, any money. We could be the largest hotspot, wifi-friendly town in America, and what a great billboard to have out on I-229 saying hey welcome to St. Joseph, free wifi if you're within our city limits. That hotspot is something I would like to expand upon.

Reeder said the city faces several pressing issues, including sewer rates.

"The sewer rates is the one people are sticking their head in the sand about because it’s keeping business from coming here," he said. "It’s keeping a lot people from developing in town because our sewer rates are unreasonable."

Reeder said he has been a longtime supporter of the police department.

“ But I think the police officers for their own career from the start to the end deserve more money because they're always policemen and their life is more in jeopardy every time they have a uniform on because they have to wear a gun," he said. "Firemen and police are different. Police are what’s needed and are more in jeopardy with their lives, all the time. I think they should be paid significantly different throughout their career. I think firemen should be paid more now too."

Reeder said his overall commitment is to protect the taxpayers.

"Every decision I make will be focused on protecting your interests and ensuring your voice is heard in city government," he said. I treat every dollar like it’s my own and make sure your money works for you and not against you.

The primary election will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Reeder is running against St. Joseph mayoral incumbent, John Josendale, and candidates Jonathan McClain and Larry Miller.